Tag Archive: Cinderella

The tale as old as time returns to theaters. There’s no question “Beauty and the Beast” will open above $100 million. How high will it soar?

Disney has had a lot of success bringing animated classics to live action. “Maleficent,” “Cinderella,” and “The Jungle Book” all enjoyed strong box office numbers but “Beauty and the Beast” stands in a class above them.

The animated film was released in 1991, meaning fans of that film are old enough to have nostalgia set in and many may have children of their own to bring. “Beauty and the Beast” stands tall as one of those revered films with music that people still sing today.

All that means anticipation is sky high. The movie earned $16.7 million during preview showings, much higher than other recent family hits like “Finding Dory” ($9.2 million). This film will light the box office on fire. Can it catch “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and its $166 million March record? It’ll be close.

You’d think Disney would learn that some expensive projects (“John Carter”, “The Lone Ranger” with Johnny Depp) just aren’t worth it. I mean, with Pixar, you’ve made “Toy Story”, “Up” and more. You have animated classics like “The Lion King” and “Cinderella”. For many, the animated “The Jungle Book” is on the list of their favorite animated films. Get ready for a new live action version of it. Now “The Jungle Book” was a live action film in 1994, but who remembers that one? Exactly. It seems to be a trend with Disney with “Maleficent” (“Sleeping Beauty”) and “Cinderella” also future live action films based on Disney’s animated classics. Don’t forget they made “Alice in Wonderland” from Tim Burton. Ugh. At least one of these films is going to flop…big time.

Whew, another project for Anna Kendrick. Reports are that she’s joined “Into the Woods”, an adaptation of the Broadway musical. Obviously we know she has singing chops, which she showed off in “Pitch Perfect”. She’ll play Cinderella in the film that,(from Firstshowing.net): mashes-up classic fairy tales and revolves around a baker and his wife, to be played by James Corden and Emily Blunt. They attempt to lift a family curse by journeying into the woods to confront The Witch, played by Meryl Streep, who put the spell on them. Along their journey they meet classic characters including Rapunzel, Cinderella, Jack and Little Red Riding Hood. In this version, Cinderella is married to a vain prince…”

I’m really hoping this isn’t the start of a trend. With recent films like “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “Jack the Giant Slayer”, Hollywood has taken on reimagining the fairy tale. Disney is right there with the upcoming “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie. But what about reimaging modern classics? That’s right. “Beauty and the Beast” is a masterpiece. So it comes with great annoyance that Disney has plans to remake the film as a darker version, currently titled “The Beast”. Joe Aherne, who wrote “Trance” is penning the script In other Disney news, Emma Watson has dropped out of the live action “Cinderella”, which stars Cate Blanchett.

It’s a good day for a few “Harry Potter” vets. Gary Oldman is in as a leader of a human colony in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”. And reports are that Daniel Radcliffe will be playing Igor in a new take on Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”, which will tell the tale from Igor’s perspective. “Chronicle” writer Max Landis penned the script. And finally Emma Watson is set to star in a live action version of “Cinderella”. Kenneth Branagh (“Thor”) is directing the film and Cate Blanchett is also in as the evil step mother.

Get ready. The fairy tale revision movies are still coming. From “Mirror, Mirror” and “Snow White and the Huntsman’ to “Maleficent” starring Angelina Jolie, the princess is back and looking to kick some butt. But Disney’s “Cinderella” could be different. Disney has brought Professor Lockhart himself, Kenneth Branagh to direct the film, which is rumored to have Cate Blanchett interested in playing the evil step-mother. No word on who will play the title character. Branagh also directed “Thor” and the upcoming “Jack Ryan” starring Chris Pine.